Hat (tricorn): WRNS Officer's

This is part of the uniform worn by Barbara Eileen Noverraz. Born in Bristol in 1919, Noverraz worked as a clerk in the Eagle Star Insurance Company before volunteering to serve in the WRNS in 1939. Initially she served as a Wren in the pay office but by 1942 attended the Naval College, Greenwich, officer training. Later the same year she was transferred as a cipher officer to Barry Docks. By the time of the Invasion she was based at Southwick House, Hampshire, processing ciphers connected with the D-Day landings. In September 1944 she went to France, landing in Normandy where some of the beaches were still mined. She remembered, 'The French threw flowers and opened windows. We sat on the back of a jeep, waving. We were delighted. We could see what sort of conditions they were in. They saw we were women and did not expect that. They seemed surprised'. Spending some time at Arromanches she went on to Paris and Brussels, and later moved around France and Germany setting up signals stations, serving in Minden, Bremen and Hamburg. During her war service she had worked closely to Admiral Ramsey and met General Montgomery, both, she noticed, two personalities with opposite qualities. Post-war she was invited to attend the Belsen trial as an observer.

This is part of the uniform worn by Barbara Eileen Noverraz. Born in Bristol in 1919, Noverraz worked as a clerk in the Eagle Star Insurance Company before volunteering to serve in the WRNS in 1939. Initially she served as a Wren in the pay office but by 1942 attended the Naval College, Greenwich, officer training. Later the same year she was transferred as a cipher officer to Barry Docks. By the time of the Invasion she was based at Southwick House, Hampshire, processing ciphers connected with the D-Day landings. In September 1944 she went to France, landing in Normandy where some of the beaches were still mined. She remembered, 'The French threw flowers and opened windows. We sat on the back of a jeep, waving. We were delighted. We could see what sort of conditions they were in. They saw we were women and did not expect that. They seemed surprised'. Spending some time at Arromanches she went on to Paris and Brussels, and later moved around France and Germany setting up signals stations, serving in Minden, Bremen and Hamburg. During her war service she had worked closely to Admiral Ramsey and met General Montgomery, both, she noticed, two personalities with opposite qualities. Post-war she was invited to attend the Belsen trial as an observer. Whilst at Barry Docks she met Lieutenant Stanley Buckley, and following a long courtship and engagement they married in 1950 (see UNI 12751-12753).

Hat Tricorn hat made of black velvet with a badge sewn to the front consisting of a white metal fouled anchor within a double spray of laurels, the laurels being worked in light blue thread; above, an Imperial Crown, worked in gold wire with a red velvet cushion (worn). Inside, the hat has an artificial silk sweatband and a maker's label.

Simpson Piccadilly